Growing your own in 30 below - the chef on an Arctic self-sufficiency mission17 March 2018 - 'We're on a mission ... to make this town very sustainable. Because if we can do it here, then what's everybody else's excuse?' In one of the planet's most northerly settlements, in a tiny Arctic town of about 2,000 people, Benjamin Vidmar's domed greenhouse stands out like an alien structure in the snow-cloaked landscape. He is the sole supplier of locally-grown food in the Norwegian town of Longyearbyen in the Svalbard archipelago. The North Pole is about 1,050 kilometres (650 miles) to the north; mainland Norway is about as far south. (more)

In Norway, electric and hybrid cars outsell conventional models4 January 2018 - Sales of electric and hybrid cars in Norway outpaced those running on fossil fuels last year, cementing the country's position as a global leader in the push to restrict vehicle emissions. Norway, a major oil exporter, would seem an unlikely champion of newer, cleaner-running vehicles. But the country offers generous incentives that make electric cars cheaper to buy, and provides additional benefits once the vehicles are on the road. (more)

Norway powers ahead (electrically): over half new car sales now electric or hybrid3 January 2018 - Sales of electric and hybrid cars rose above half of new registrations in Norway in 2017, a record aided by generous subsidies that extended the country's lead in shifting from fossil-fuel engines, data showed on Wednesday (3 January). (more)

Norway leads way on electric cars: 'it's part of a green taxation shift'25 December 2017 - Nearly a third of all new cars sold in Norway this year will be plug-in models and experts expect that share to skyrocket. In Oslo, the streets are filled with silent, gliding cars, from large ones such as the Tesla X to smaller models such as the Renault Zoe. (more)

London black cab firm inks Norway export deal for electric taxis22 December 2017 - LEVC [London Electric Vehicle Company], the maker of London's new electric black cabs, has inked a deal with Oslo-based importer Autoindustri that will see its plug-in taxis sold in Norway from next year. It follows LEVC's export deal with Rotterdam mobility firm RMC in September, and the car manufacturer has previously claimed it also has further interest from other European cities for its EVs. (more)

Norway: Increase in sales of organic food1 April 2017 - Norwegians last year bought so-called organic foods worth NOK 2.5 billion. This is an increase of 24 percent from 2015. (more)

Norway tops global happiness report20 March 2017 - Norway jumped to top spot in the World Happiness Report despite the plummeting price of oil -- a key part of its economy -- but researchers said it's the 'human things' that matter, such as a feeling of community which is strong in the Scandinavian country of 5 million. In the report on 155 countries, Denmark fell to second, followed by Iceland, Switzerland, and Finland. (more)

Norway revs electric cars to 100,000 units13 December 2016 - Norway, which boasts the world's highest number of electric cars per capita, now has 100,000 such vehicles on the road, a trade body said Tuesday (13 December). The clean cars are already saving the Nordic country some 200,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, and the plan is to boost their number to 400,000 over the next three years, the Electric Vehicle Association said. (more)

U.S., Norway say forests vital to global climate goals15 June 2016 - Last year's international deal on limiting climate change must involve more use of forests as natural stores of carbon, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Norway's government said in a joint statement on Wednesday. Norway, rich from oil and gas exports, has been the most generous nation in helping emerging nations to slow loss of forests in recent years including projects worth $1 billion each in Brazil and Indonesia. (more)

Norway: Could Oslo's decision to divest from coal inspire bigger cities to do the same?23 March 2015 - When Oslo sells the coal investments in its pension portfolio next month, it will set a historic precedent: the first capital city in the world to divest itself of that most polluting of fossil fuels. And the city is just the highest profile in a series of major urban areas that have made bold moves in recent weeks, ridding themselves of fossil fuel investments and becoming more carbon friendly. (more)

Success of Maharishi's ProgrammesShort Summaries of Top Stories

Interview: Thomas Reinholdt - Transcendental Meditation 'changed everything'26 August 2015 - Struggling with his studies at university, Thomas Reinholdt set out to find a cure for his short attention span. Once he learned Transcendental Meditation, his focus and efficiency greatly increased, he breezed through law school and embarked on a successful career in finance. Today, he is teaching the TM technique to his peers in the finance industry in Norway. Teaching Transcendental Meditation, he said, 'makes it possible for me to realize myself at the same time as I help others transform their lives toward greater success and happiness. This win-win situation is very fulfilling.' (more)

New study sheds light on 'peak experiences' in world-class performers5 September 2012 - A Norwegian researcher has published a new study on peak experiences among world-class performers in management, sports, classical music, and other professions, which found that during optimal performance they spontaneously experienced 'higher states of consciousness'. They also displayed unique brain wave characteristics. Brain research expert and co-author Dr Fred Travis commented that such peak experiences might be able to be cultivated over time through regular Transcendental Meditation practice. (more)

Norwegian researcher publishes study on peak experiences in top performers29 June 2012 - Dr Harald Harung, of the Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences in Norway, has published a paper on peak experiences in world-class performers, finding that during optimal performance they spontaneously experience the four higher states of consciousness described in Maharishi Vedic Science. Published in April in the Journal of Human Values, the paper reviews research on peak experiences, including four quantitative studies Dr Harung has coauthored on world-class performers in management, sports, classical music, and a variety of professions. (more)

Integrated brain functioning as the basis of success in any field13 February 2012 - Studies show that the Transcendental Meditation Technique develops integrated brain functioning. More integrated brain functioning has been correlated with success in world-class athletes and top-level managers. (more)

Encouraging findings in Norwegian study on fibromyalgia and Maharishi Ayurveda22 December 2011 - A new study is coming out on the use of Maharishi Ayurveda health care in the treatment of fibromyalgia, a condition of widespread chronic pain. This 24-month study is the second to be published on this topic by Dr Lars Rasmussen, who has worked in Maharishi Ayurveda in Norway for 20 years. In an earlier, six-month study of a group of women, published in 2009, symptoms like working ability, pain, tiredness, stiffness, and anxiety significantly improved. Five of the participants, including all four who learned the Transcendental Meditation Technique, had almost no symptoms by the end of the study. (more)

New meditators, new website, new courses in Norway22 December 2011 - New meditators, new courses, newly translated knowledge materials, and a new collaboration with other Nordic countries to train peace-creating experts in the region--recent news from Norway featured many practical advancements offered by the Transcendental Meditation Programme in the country. (more)

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's visit to Norway25 November 2010 - The Global Country of World Peace in Norway last month celebrated the 50th anniversary of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's first visit to the country. The historic celebrations became widely known through newspaper, magazine, and television media coverage, inspiring many people to learn the Transcendental Meditation Technique and creating a great wave of interest and enthusiasm for the programme throughout the nation. (more)

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Transcendental Meditation in Norway: Creating invincible peace and progress18 November 2010 - The 50th anniversary of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's first visit to Norway inspired tremendous interest in Transcendental Meditation and focus on creating invincible peace and progress in the nation. (more)

Norway: Filmmaker David Lynch promotes research on value of Transcendental Consciousness18 November 2010 - During his recent visit to Norway, filmmaker Dr David Lynch spoke about the value of transcendental consciousness, experienced through the Transcendental Meditation Programme. (more)

Norway: Tour of filmmaker David Lynch creates great wave of interest in Transcendental Meditation18 November 2010 - The number of people learning the Transcendental Meditation Programme in Norway tripled last month following the visit of filmmaker Dr David Lynch. (more)

FlopsShort Summaries of Top Stories

Screen time linked to weaker bones in teen boys25 June 2015 - Teenaged boys who spend too many hours in front of the computer or television without participating in enough weight-bearing exercise could develop weaker bones as they age, a small Norwegian study suggests. Childhood and the teen years are critical periods for growing bones and establishing a bone density level that can affect osteoporosis risk much later in life. 'I think you can never say too often what the authors were saying,' said Dr. Laura Bachrach, a pediatric endocrinologist at Stanford University Medical School in California. (more)

Screen time may damage teens' sleep3 February 2015 - A new study is the latest to link blue-light emitting devices, like laptops, phones, and game consoles, to shorter sleep in adolescents. Using any device in the hour before bed was associated with a 13 to 52 per cent increase in the likelihood of needing more than 60 minutes to fall asleep, the researchers found. More than four daytime hours of screen time was associated with a similar increase in risk of 'sleep latency', or taking a long time to fall asleep. Screen time was also linked to an increased risk of a sleep deficit of at least two hours, meaning the kids said they needed two more hours of sleep than they were actually getting. (more)

Norway: Kids who use snus before age 16 more likely to become smokers17 February 2014 - Norwegians who started using snus before age 16 were more likely to become cigarette smokers than those who started using snus later in life, according to a new study. In Norway, snus has become a smoking cessation aid and most older snus users are former smokers. But snus is also becoming increasingly popular among young Norwegian adults, many of whom have not smoked cigarettes. And although research is divided, the current thinking is that snus use reduces the likelihood of taking up smoking. Lucy Popova, from the Centre for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California, San Francisco, told Reuters Health the new study was interesting. 'Earlier initiation of snus basically makes it a gateway to tobacco use, to cigarette use in the future,' she said. (more)

Too much Tylenol in pregnancy could affect development22 November 2013 - Expectant mothers often take Tylenol, with the active ingredient acetaminophen, to deal with back pain, headaches or mild fevers during pregnancy. But frequent use may be linked to poorer language skills and behaviour problems among their children, according to a new study. As the most popular over-the-counter drug in the US, Tylenol has been extensively studied in relation to premature birth and miscarriage, with no connections found. But its maker Johnson & Johnson periodically comes under fire for the drug's small therapeutic index -- that is, the difference between an effective dose and a dangerous dose is quite small. So interest in investigating the drug persists. The new study is the first to look at young children whose mothers took Tylenol while pregnant. 'Our findings suggest that (acetaminophen) might not be as harmless as we think,' Ragnhild Eek Brandlistuen said. Close to four per cent of women took Tylenol for at least 28 days total during pregnancy. Their children seemed to have poorer motor skills than kids whose mothers had taken the drug fewer times or not at all. Tylenol-exposed kids also tended to start walking later, have poorer communication and language skills and more behaviour problems. (more)

Al-Qaida trains Norwegian to attack25 June 2012 - A Norwegian man has received terrorist training from al-Qaida's offshoot in Yemen and is awaiting orders to carry out an attack on the West, officials from three European security agencies told The Associated Press on Monday. Western intelligence officials have long feared such a scenario -- a convert to Islam who is trained in terrorist methods and can blend in easily in Europe and the United States, travelling without visa restrictions. European security services, including in Norway, have warned in recent years of homegrown, radicalized Muslims travelling to terror training camps in conflict zones. Many of the known cases involve young men with family roots in Muslim countries. But the latest case involves a man in his 30s with no immigrant background, the officials said. After converting to Islam in 2008, he quickly became radicalized and traveled to Yemen to receive terror training, one of the officials said. The man spent 'some months' in Yemen and is still believed to be there. (more)

Norway killer tells judge 'two more cells' exist25 July 2011 - Anders Behring Breivik told a Norwegian judge on Monday his bombing and shooting rampage that killed scores aimed to save Europe from a Muslim takeover, and said that 'two more cells' existed in his organisation. Breivik's remarks at the closed-door custody hearing were relayed by the judge, Kim Heger, at a news conference. The killer has previously said he acted alone and police had earlier said they were trying to confirm this. But after Breivik's claim about other cells, police attorney Christian Hatlo said 'we cannot completely rule out' the possibility that others were involved in Friday's attacks. After the hearing, Heger said he had ordered Breivik detained in solitary confinement for eight weeks, with no letters, newspapers, or visits, except from a lawyer. (more)

Norway suspect wanted European anti-Muslim crusade24 July 2011 - The man blamed for attacks on Norway's government headquarters and an island retreat for young people that left at least 93 dead said he was motivated by a desire to bring about a revolution in Norwegian society, his lawyer said Sunday. A manifesto he published online -- which police are poring over and said was posted the day of the attack -- ranted against Muslim immigration to Europe and vowed revenge on 'indigenous Europeans,' whom he accused of betraying their heritage. It added that they would be punished for their 'treasonous acts.' Police and his lawyer have said that Breivik confessed to the twin attacks, but denied criminal responsibility for a day that shook peaceful Norway to its core and was the deadliest ever in peacetime. Breivik has been charged with terrorism and will be arraigned on Monday. (more)

Norway attacks shock, disgust Europe23 July 2011 - The deadly twin attacks in Norway were greeted with an outpouring Saturday of sympathy and disgust across Europe and beyond, and generated calls to counter the far-right intolerance that may have motivated the assailant. A massive bombing Friday in the heart of Oslo was followed by a horrific shooting spree on an island hosting a youth retreat for the prime minister's center-left party. The same man, a Norwegian with reported Christian fundamentalist, anti-Muslim views, was suspected in both attacks. 'It appears the attack on the Utoya youth camp was intended to hurt young citizens who actively engage in our democratic and political society,' said Thorbjorn Jagland, the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe and chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize, awarded each year in Oslo. (more)

Norway PM Stoltenberg says attacker 'turned paradise into hell'23 July 2011 - An assailant who shot dead at least 84 people at a youth camp of Norway's ruling party turned a 'youth paradise into a hell', Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said on Saturday. 'Many of those who lost their lives were persons I know. I know the young people and I know their parents,' he told a news conference. 'And what hurts more is that this place where I have been every summer since 1979, and where I have experienced joy, commitment and security, has been hit by brutal violence -- a youth paradise has been transformed into a hell.' 'Each and everyone who was present at Uteoya is damaged for life. Young people have experienced things every person should be spared -- fear, blood and death'. (more)

Bomb kills 2 in Oslo, gunman wounds 5 at camp22 July 2011 - A bomb devastated the main government building in Norway's capital Oslo on Friday, killing two people, and a gunman wounded five people hours later in a shooting at a youth camp, state media reported. 'This is very serious,' Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg told Norwegian TV2 television in a phone call. He added it was too early to say if the blast was a terrorist attack. He said that police had advised him not to say where he was speaking from. 'Even though we have prepared for this type of situation, it is fairly dramatic when it happens,' he added. Political violence is virtually unknown in a country known for awarding the Nobel Peace Prize and mediating in conflicts, including in the Middle East and Sri Lanka. (more)